SPRINGFIELD – The City Council on Monday, by a one-vote margin, rejected a proposal for a new, nine-member Police Oversight Board, leaving intact a board created by the mayor to review police brutality and misconduct complaints.

The new board, which would have included four members nominated by neighborhood councils and two members nominated by the City Council for mayoral consideration, was rejected by the council by a 6-7 vote. The current board is directly appointed by the mayor.

E. Henry Twiggs

Councilor E. Henry Twiggs, a supporter of the proposed new board, has asked for a reconsideration vote at the next meeting.

In other action Monday, City Councilor Timothy J. Rooke blocked a vote on a proposal to extend the trash fee when he invoked council Rule 20, which automatically halted any vote and any further debate until there is a financial analysis by the city comptroller.

The trash fee is scheduled to expire June 30, unless extended by the council.

The proposed nine-member Police Oversight board, if approved, was intended to replace the mayor’s seven-member board.

Neither board had the power to discipline police officers. Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet has full disciplinary powers, but accepts recommendations from the mayor’s review board, and said he typically upholds their recommendations.

Supporters of the new board said it would enhance oversight and create greater community involvement in the aftermath of accusations of police brutality in a traffic stop of Melvin Jones III, and the firing of Officer Jeffrey M. Asher.

Under the ordinance, the new board would divide into panels to hear allegations of excessive force and police misconduct and would file binding findings to the police commissioner.

It was opposed by John A. Lysak, Clodovaldo Concepcion, Rooke, Kateri B. Walsh, Thomas Ashe, James J. Ferrera III, and Jose F. Tosado. Ferrera and Tosado said they favor a return to a Police Commission with full powers.